DEPRESSION AND COGNITIVE DEFICIT IN THE ELDERLY INSTITUTIONALIZED

Abstract

The aging process inevitably happens with time, independently of existence or not of diseases. The pace and impact of that process on the quality of life depend on economic, genetic, demographic, behavioral and sociocultural facts. The older people’s hospitalization in Long Stay Institutions (ILP) occurs due to changes in family’s parameter. Objective: To identify the prevalence of depressive pictures in institutionalized elderly; identify the possible relationship between institutionalization and depressive episodes; chasing correlations between depressive episodes, dementia, medication and general health of the elderly and compare the described data in the literature. Methods and procedures: 24 elderly people from two ILP’s located in Marilia - SP have been selected as research subjects, considered the exclusion criteria. The following instruments had been used to collect data: identification (anamnesis), charts; screenplay a structured interview; Mini Mental State Examination – MMSE and Geriatric Depression Scale – GDS-30, which were used in the elderly in different moments. Data were tabulated and analyzed descriptively. Results: The research indicates a framework in addition to the targeted by the literature for the epidemiology on depression. The literature points the prevalence of depression during the institution’s patient’s life average around 30-40%. Our research indicates that around 50% of the elderly are indicative internal depression and, not all of elderly people who are indicative of depression and/or dementia take any medication and present diagnosis for these pathologies.